She channel between Margarita Island, and the mainland is said, to be 
% marvelously rich place for all manner of marine life, and so should offer 
good fishing as well as good collecting of all kinds. In this connection 
you will be interested to learn that the little sea-urchins we got off the 
anchor chain when it was hauled up at Tagus Cove are of a genus not before 
reported from the Galapagos. 
i’he Museum would be happy to receive at least m large a shipment 
of frozen fish as they got as the result of your efforts on the cruise just 
past. I'm quite sure about twice as many m last time, a thousand instead of 
five hundred pounds would not be at all unwelcome. 
Geologically phosphate minerals from deposits on some of the islands 
would be of interest to the Museum minerologist. 
Dr. 0. F. Cookj^ who is getting his report on the new genus and 
species of palm from Cocos Island In shape for publication, tells me that the 
usual run of field botanists seldom collect palms. With ©any of then the chief 
ambition seems to be to collect as many "numbers,” (sheets of plants) as possi- 
ble, and bulky, hard-to-trsnsport things like palms would tend to cramp their 
style too much. With a lot ©f willing, able help such as the Houston affords, 
it might be possible to pick up a palm or two. Palms from out of the way islands 
and places do not often find their way back to civilization and museum herbaria. 
On your next cruise I would suggest that you have a wooden aquarium- 
tank installed on the quarter deck, port side forward., in which to keep some 
of the smaller brightly colored reef-fishes alive overnight in case they are 
brought la too late for color photographing the same day. The ship carpenter's 
I think, could construct each a tank without much trouble, k tank of six or 
eight by three .or four feet divided into two equal sized compartments about 
thirty inches deep should be ample* even something smaller, the size of a 
couple of wash tubs would do. The main thing i® running water, and a small 
awning to shield the tanks from the sun. 
Also a dory or two would be useful at times in enabling landings 
to be made on rocky shores when the bottom wag too rough or shoaled too rapidly 
to permit the launches to get in sufficiently close enough to shore to land 
men and gear conveniently. I believe the navy conib readily transfer a couple 
of dory a or skiffs to the ship for the duration of cruise. 
Almost anything that you might be able to bring back in the way 
of specimens fro® the region you contemplate visiting would be of great in- 
terest and real scientific value to the Museum, fish, porpoises , birds, mammals, 
the deer and tree-squirrel of Margarita particularly, reptiles, palms , phos- 
phate minerals, and marine Invertebrates . 
Respectfully, 
The President, 
The Hon. Franklin 1). Hooaevelt, 
The White House, 
Washington, B. C. 
